Run time integrated development and modification system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for an integrated development and modification system. An embodiment operates by providing an application including a user interface component bound to perform a function on data from a data source. A modification of the user interface component is received during a run time of the application. The modification is applied to the application. The application including the modification is provided to the user during the run time of the application.

BACKGROUND

Application developers are focused on developing applications thatprovide functionality relevant to users of an application. However, whenbuilding an application from scratch, there is a tremendous amount ofprogramming involved, and the same function can often be programmed inmultiple different ways. Not only might this process waste time anddistract an application developer from the central purpose of buildingthe application, but it may also introduce a greater likelihood oferrors and inconsistencies across applications. Furthermore, any time auser needs a change to the application, the user often must firstcontact the application developer, who may become the bottleneck forapplication improvements especially as the number of users or changesgrows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are incorporated herein and form a part of thespecification.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an integrated development and modificationsystem (IDMS), according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for a design time method for an integrateddevelopment and modification system (IDMS), according to someembodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for a run time method for an integrateddevelopment and modification system (IDMS), according to someembodiments.

FIG. 4 is an example computer system useful for implementing variousembodiments.

FIG. 5 is block diagram showing different user roles, according to someembodiments.

In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical orsimilar elements. Additionally, generally, the left-most digit(s) of areference number identifies the drawing in which the reference numberfirst appears.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Provided herein are system, apparatus, device, method and/or computerprogram product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinationsthereof, for providing an integrated development and modificationsystem.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram 100 of an integrated development andmodification system (IDMS) 102, according to some embodiments. IDMS 102allows for the development and modification of an application 104 in atleast two different modes of operation: design time and run time. Duringthe design time mode, an application developer or administrator 108 maycreate the shell or skeleton of application 104 and fill in the shellwith user interface components 106 and functionality to be performed orexecuted by the application 104. During the run time mode, a user 110(such as an end user or key user) may modify certain features or aspectsof the application 104 during an execution, operation, or use ofapplication 104.

Admin 108 may be an application developer, programmer, or otheradministrator of a system who has the authorization, role, orresponsibility of creating or modifying applications 104 for use by oneor more users 110, or any combination thereof. IDMS 102 may enable admin108 to create a new application using a template 112.

Template 112 may be a pre-configured shell or skeleton of an application104. In an embodiment, template 112 may be a digital canvas upon whichadmin 108 may drag, drop, and position different UI components 106 foruse in, with, or by application 104. In an embodiment, template 112 mayinclude a pre-configured connection to a data source 114, which may beaccessed via metadata 116. Template 112 may be design and technologyagnostic, such that even if the underlying data source 114 changes, theapplication development process described herein, as provided via IDMS102, would remain unchanged to an admin 108 or user 110. This may allowfor more efficient application creation and modification as the users108, 110 may focus on the application development process.

Data source 114 may be a structure such as a disk-based or in-memorydatabase spread across one or more computing devices with data that isaccessible to application 104. In an embodiment, the data of data source114 may include data of an organization such as sales, customer,employee, business relationship, financial, or other data. Data source114 may be any database (including row or column based databases) orother storage structures that may be used to store and provide data foruse by one or more applications 104.

Data source 114 may be indirectly accessed or processed applications 104via metadata 116. In an embodiment, data source 114 may bepre-processed, which may include generating metadata 116 describing thestructure and/or characteristics of data of data source 114. Metadata116 may include information about data of data source 114. Metadata 116may include the names and relationships between different tables anddata, access privileges (e.g., such as for different users 110 or roles126), data types, storage location, or other information about data.

Through providing access to data source 114 via metadata 116, IDMS 102may provide a level of abstraction that may enable changes to theunderlying data source 114 without requiring changes to application 104that is built off of template 112 that relies on metadata 116. This mayprovide for greater usability and flexibility of applications 104 andtemplates 12 across different or multiple data sources 114. For example,the same application 104 may be used in different systems with differentdata sources 114. Conversely, changes to the structure or organizationof data of data source 114, as indicated by metadata 116 may beimmediately reflected to any users 110 accessing application 104.Furthermore, with multiple applications 104 designed and/or operatingvia IDMS 102 all accessing data source 114 via a uniform set of metadata116, fewer computing resources may be consumed and applicationprocessing and responsiveness may be increased as data source 114 maynot need to be independently processed for each application 104.

UI component 106 may include any visual indicator, display item, orother user interface component that may be displayed or executed duringan operation or run-time of application 104. UI components 106 mayinclude text, pictures, graphs, charts, real-time or periodicallyupdated indicators, or any other GUI component that may or may not begenerated based on data of data source 114. In an embodiment, IDMS 102may provide different standard or commonly used UI components 106, or UIcomponent may be the result of performing an action 120 on or withrespect to specified data 118. Another example UI component 106 mayinclude text boxes, or forms in application 104 may request text orinformation from a user 110, and/or present data or calculations to theuser 110 (which may or may not be based on the received data and/orpreviously stored data of data source 114).

A UI component 106 may include different customizable or modifiablefeatures such as data 118, action 120, and style 122. Data 118 mayinclude an indication, specification, and/or selection data of datasource 114. In an embodiment, data 118 may indicate which metadata 116should be processed by action 120 or UI component 106. In an embodiment,UI component 106A may be a form that requests a user name, and data 118may indicate (via metadata 116) how or where the received name data isstored (e.g., which table, database, row, etc. of data source 114). Or,for example, UI component 106A may be a chart of sales over time, thendata 118 may indicate which rows, columns, or tables of data from datasource 114 are used to populate the chart.

Action 120 may include an action or function that is performed by UIcomponent 106 with respect to data 118 or in response to a user requestor action. Action 120 may include sorting, charting, displaying,storing, modifying, deleting, combining, transmitting, moving, orperforming any other action or set of actions with respect to retrievedor received data 118, or any combination thereof. Action 120 may includelaunching the functionality of or another application 104. Action 120may include a visual or audible alert or event notification. Forexample, a particular graphic, text, or UI component 106 may only becomevisible or visibility may be increased upon the detection of aparticular identified event (e.g., such as a change in a data value). Inan embodiment, UI component 106A may include a button or otherselectable item, in response to which UI component 106A may perform (orrequest to be performed) a designated or selected action 120.

In an embodiment, template 112 may include a number of standard oroften-used actions from which admin 108 may select. For example, IDMS102 may receive a selection of a storage action 120 and may request thatadmin 108 designate where the storage action is to take place withrespect to data source 114 (i.e., data 118).

Style 122 may include any visual or audible effects associated with a UIcomponent 106. Style 122 may include size, location/placement relativeto other UI components, color or color palette, text, or audible soundsassociated with a performance or execution of application 104 andparticularly UI component 106.

In an embodiment, application 104 may include one or more customcomponents 124. Custom component 124 may include any customfunctionality or action 120 that admin 108 may want to include in theoperation of UI component 106 or application 104. For example, thoughparticular UI components 106 may be pre-configured with common orstandardized actions 120, IDMS 102 may provide the flexibility tooverride, add, modify, or remove any of the standard functionalitythrough the use of one or more custom components 124. Example customcomponent 124 features may include adaptations of UI components 106 fordifferent devices or screen sizes (which in another embodiment, may be apre-configured template 112 feature), error and exception handling, andcaching behavior.

In an embodiment, custom component 124 may include code that may beexecuted in lieu of or in addition to action 120. Additionally or inanother embodiment, custom component 124 may include an entireapplication 104 that is designed without the use of any template 112 orstandardized UI components 106, but which may still access data source114 via metadata 116.

Role 126 may be an indication as to which users 110 are authorized toaccess which features and UI components 106 (including data 118, action120, and style 122) of application 104. For example, two different users110 in two different roles within an organization may see differentversions of the same time entry application 104. For example, a firstmanager user 110 may see UI components 106 that allow the manager toenter their own time and also see the time entries of other employees.However, a non-managerial user 110 may only see the UI component 106that enables time entry for that particular user.

In an embodiment, role 126 may indicate which users 110 may modify whichUI components 106 or features thereof of application 104 (e.g., duringrun-time). Role 126 may also indicate whether those changes are one-timeonly, stored and persisted over time, and/or are reflected in theoperation or execution of application 104 by one or more other users104. For example, a manager user 110 may be able to make modifications130 that are reflected in the execution of application 104 of one ormore other team member users 110. Meanwhile, the team member users 110may not have authority to make modifications 130 to application 104, ormay only have authority to make modifications 130 for their own view orinteraction with application 104.

FIG. 5 is block diagram 500 showing different user roles 126, accordingto some embodiments. Three user roles 126A, 126B, and 126C are shown inthe example of FIG. 5, although this disclosure is not limited to thatexample embodiment. The first is a developer or admin 110C, the secondis a key user or business user 110B, and the third is a standard orend-user 110A. Other roles may include combinations or subsets of theseroles 126A, 126B, 126C.

As noted by role 126A, developer 108 may build a new or modifiedapplication 104 for a company. In an embodiment, the creation of newapplications may be limited to application developers 108. In anembodiment, different application developers 108 may have the authority(as indicated by role 126) to develop applications for particularbusiness areas and/or sets of users 110. Developer 108 may create/modifyapplication 104 using a webIDE (web integrated development environment)510 during a design time. In using webIDE 510, developer 108 may modifyany features associated with application 104, including metadata 116,data sources 114, custom components 124, roles 126, data 118, action120, style 122, template 112, and the inclusion/removal of different UIcomponents 106.

A key or business user 110B may adapt or modify the applications 104 fora team or other users as indicated by role 126B. For example, during arun-time of application 104, key user 110B may select an option to enteran adaptation mode 520 of IDMS 102. While operating in adaptation mode520 (e.g., during run-time), key user 110B may make changes ormodifications 130 to application 104, and select which other users 110(if any) of a team or collection of people will see the modification130. For example, a business manager 110B may make changes for acorresponding business group of users 110.

A standard or end-user 110A may personalize their own screen or UIcomponents 106 as indicated by role 126C. The modifications 130 made byend-user 110A during a personalization phase (during run-time) of IDMS102 may only be visible to end-user 110A, which may includepersonalization features 530. In an embodiment, end user 110A may haverestrictions on which customizations or changes may be made relative tokey user 110B. For example, there may be required business groupfunctionality that end user 110A may not modify, but key user 110B maymodify.

Returning to FIG. 1, modification 130 may include a run-timemodification or change made by user 110 interacting with an executing orrun-time version of application 104. In an embodiment, one or moreportions of application 104 (e.g., such as changed made during designtime) may be compiled prior to execution by IDMS 102. Then, differentinstances of application 104 may be executed or run on or across anumber of mobile devices 134.

In an embodiment, modification 130 may include a change to UI components106 or application 104 that does not need to be compiled or does notrequire a recompilation of application 104 to be implemented. In thismanner, IDMS 102 may save resources and increase processing speed andcapabilities by allowing for non-compilable changes or modifications 130to application 104 on a user-by-user basis. Otherwise, for example, eachchange may need to be performed by a system administrator, who may haveto recompile multiple different versions of an application, which wouldconsume more memory and resources than simply storing modification 130to a base or previously compiled version of application 104.

Mobile device 134 may be any device communicatively coupled to IDMS 102or one or more servers that may include application 104. Mobile device134 may be a cell phone, laptop, tablet, desktop computer, applianceand/or any other device, module, application or apparatus thatcommunicates with IDMS 102 over a network. Mobile device 134 may accessor launch an instance of application 104 as it is being executed acrossone more servers, such as over the cloud.

In an embodiment, using mobile device 134, user 110 may access and useapplication 104 as designed by admin 108 during design time. However,under role 126, user 110 may also modify one or more run-time componentsor features of application 104, including UI components 106A, 106B usingmobile device 134. These run-time modifications 130 may then be appliedby a runtime processor 132 to only the current instance of application104 for user 110, and for an extended period of time each time user 110may use application 104, or may be propagated to one or more other users110 (not shown) who may access or be using application 104.

In an embodiment, modification 130 may be limited to any modificationsto UI components 106 that may be performed using a touchscreen device,such as a tablet computer. For example, modification 130 may be amodification or change that may be implemented or requested using adrag-and-drop command or a button click or menu selection.

Modification 130 may include a modification to data 118, action 120, orstyle 122. For example, modification 130 may include changing thesize/position (i.e., style 122) of a UI component 106, changing whichdata 118 is used to populate a UI component 106, or changing how thatdata is processed (i.e., action 120) such as presenting a pie chartinstead of a bar chart, or using a key performance indicator instead ofwhat was previously used. Or, for example, modification 130 may be anon/off, enable/disable toggle for various features 118, 120, 122 (whichmay be designated during design time) or particular UI components 106.In an embodiment, modification 130 may be a change to any feature thatdoes not require a recompilation of application 104, in whole or inpart. Or, for example, modification 130 may be a change to anythingother than custom component 124 or metadata 116.

Runtime processor 132 may store and/or implement modification 130 onparticular instances of application 104. For example, as noted above,modification 130 may be propagated to one or more additional users (suchas team members of user 110) who may be authorized to access application104 or for whom user 110 is authorized to change the functionality ofapplication 104. These changes via modification 104 may propagated inreal-time, the users may be notified that a modification 104 has beenmade and requested to restart application 104, or the modification 104may be implemented on the next user login. Runtime processor 132 may beable to store and implement various versions of application 104 based onthe individual and/or group modifications 130 received from one or moreusers 110.

In an embodiment, further design time changes or upgrades implemented byadmin 108 may or may not reset or override modification 130. Forexample, if admin 108 makes a universal upgrade to application 104, thenthose changes may be implemented, however, individual modifications 130may still be applied on top of those changes for particular users 110.Or, for example, after an upgrade, user 110 may be notified of theupgrade and may be asked whether or not the previous modifications 130are to continue to be persisted.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for a design time method 200 for an integrateddevelopment and modification system (IDMS), according to an embodiment.Method 200 can be performed by processing logic that can comprisehardware (e.g., circuitry, dedicated logic, programmable logic,microcode, etc.), software (e.g., instructions executing on a processingdevice), or a combination thereof. It is to be appreciated that not allsteps may be needed to perform the disclosure provided herein. Further,some of the steps may be performed simultaneously, or in a differentorder than shown in FIG. 2, as will be understood by a person ofordinary skill in the art.

At 210, a selection of a user interface component of an application isreceived. For example, during a design-time process of IDMS 102, IDMS102 may receive a component selection of a UI component 106 from admin108. In an embodiment, IDMS 102 may provide a drag-and-drop interfacefrom which admin 108 may select, drag, and drop UI component 106 onto acanvas or digital template 112.

At 220, metadata corresponding to data of a data source is determined.For example, IDMS 102 may receive a selection of data source 114, orportions thereof, from admin 108. In an embodiment, UI component 106 maybe pre-processed or pre-configured and metadata 116 linking UI component106 to data source 114 may be available as a proxy for selection ormanipulation of data from data source 114 within UI component 106.

At 230, a function that executes an operation with respect to the dataassociated with the data and corresponding to the user interfacecomponent is determined. For example, IDMS 102 may receive an indicationof an action 120 to be performed on the selected data 118. The action120 may include generated a display item associated with UI component,such as a graph, chart, or indicator of some kind. Action 120 mayinclude modifying data of data source 114, or receiving or requestingdata from a user 110 during run-time. Action 120 may include, forexample, performing a calculation.

At 240, one or more roles that have access to the data are determined.For example, role 126 may indicate which users 110 or roles have accessto application 104 or the various UI components 106A, 106B thereof andhow far those user privileges extend. For example, particular users 110(or users in specified roles) may perform run-time modifications 130 toapplication 104. Those modifications 130 may then be persisted over time(even beyond further changes by admin 108) and/or be pushed onto therun-time applications 104 of one or more other users 110. Other users110 however may be restricted as being only end users unable to makechanges on behalf or other users, and who may or may not be enabled tomake changes on their own views of application 104.

At 250, the application, including the user interface component, isprovided via a web browser for access by a user associated with one ofthe roles. For example, user 110 may request to access application 104via a mobile device 134. IDMS 102 may receive the request andinstantiate an instance of application 104 in accordance with theprivileges specified by role 126 for the requesting user and/or device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for a run time method 300 for an integrateddevelopment and modification system (IDMS), according to an embodiment.Method 300 can be performed by processing logic that can comprisehardware (e.g., circuitry, dedicated logic, programmable logic,microcode, etc.), software (e.g., instructions executing on a processingdevice), or a combination thereof. It is to be appreciated that not allsteps may be needed to perform the disclosure provided herein. Further,some of the steps may be performed simultaneously, or in a differentorder than shown in FIG. 3, as will be understood by a person ofordinary skill in the art.

At 310, an application is provided, the application including a userinterface component bound to perform a function on data from a datasource. For example, a user 110 may access an application 104 developedon IDMS 102 during a design-time process, using a mobile device 134. Themobile device 134 may locally instantiate or request access to aninstance of application 104 (e.g., which may be operating across one ormore backend systems, such as in a cloud environment). Application 104may include user interface components 106A and 106B which are configuredto perform action 120 on data 118. Application 104 may use metadata 116to retrieve, access, or modify data of data source 114.

At 320, a modification of the user interface component is receivedduring a run-time of the application. For example, user 110 may modifyapplication 104. The modification 130 may be retrieved during a run-timeprocess of application 104 on mobile device 134. In an embodiment,during run-time, user 110 may toggle a modification activation featurein which the user 110 is enabled to modify features 118, 120, 122 of theUI components 106A, 106B.

At 330, the modification is applied to the application. For example,after a user has changed a UI component 106, the user may indicate thatuser 110 has completed the changes. The user 110 may toggle-off of themodification feature. IDMS 102 may then save the changes made by user110 as modification 130. In an embodiment, modification 130 may beparticular to an individual user, a group of users, and/or a particulardevice 134. For example, modification 130 may only apply when a user 110is accessing application 104 from a cell phone, but may not apply whenaccessing application 104 from a laptop or different sized tablet.

At 340, the application including the modification is provided to theuser during the run-time of the application. For example, each time user110 instantiates application 104, runtime processor 132 may applymodification 130. Or, for example, upon receiving or storingmodification 130, runtime processor 132 may push or propagate themodification 130 to one or more other users who may be access or beauthorized to access application 104.

Various embodiments can be implemented, for example, using one or morecomputer systems, such as computer system 400 shown in FIG. 4. Computersystem 400 can be used, for example, to implement the application 104 ofFIG. 1 and/or the methods of FIGS. 2 and 3. Computer system 400 can beany computer capable of performing the functions described herein.

Computer system 400 can be any well-known computer capable of performingthe functions described herein.

Computer system 400 includes one or more processors (also called centralprocessing units, or CPUs), such as a processor 404. Processor 404 isconnected to a communication infrastructure or bus 406.

One or more processors 404 may each be a graphics processing unit (GPU).In an embodiment, a GPU is a processor that is a specialized electroniccircuit designed to process mathematically intensive applications. TheGPU may have a parallel structure that is efficient for parallelprocessing of large blocks of data, such as mathematically intensivedata common to computer graphics applications, images, videos, etc.

Computer system 400 also includes user input/output device(s) 403, suchas monitors, keyboards, pointing devices, etc., that communicate withcommunication infrastructure 406 through user input/output interface(s)402.

Computer system 400 also includes a main or primary memory 408, such asrandom access memory (RAM). Main memory 408 may include one or morelevels of cache. Main memory 408 has stored therein control logic (i.e.,computer software) and/or data.

Computer system 400 may also include one or more secondary storagedevices or memory 410. Secondary memory 410 may include, for example, ahard disk drive 412 and/or a removable storage device or drive 414.Removable storage drive 414 may be a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tapedrive, a compact disk drive, an optical storage device, tape backupdevice, and/or any other storage device/drive.

Removable storage drive 414 may interact with a removable storage unit418. Removable storage unit 418 includes a computer usable or readablestorage device having stored thereon computer software (control logic)and/or data. Removable storage unit 418 may be a floppy disk, magnetictape, compact disk, DVD, optical storage disk, and/any other computerdata storage device. Removable storage drive 414 reads from and/orwrites to removable storage unit 418 in a well-known manner.

According to an exemplary embodiment, secondary memory 410 may includeother means, instrumentalities or other approaches for allowing computerprograms and/or other instructions and/or data to be accessed bycomputer system 400. Such means, instrumentalities or other approachesmay include, for example, a removable storage unit 422 and an interface420. Examples of the removable storage unit 422 and the interface 420may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as thatfound in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROMor PROM) and associated socket, a memory stick and USB port, a memorycard and associated memory card slot, and/or any other removable storageunit and associated interface.

Computer system 400 may further include a communication or networkinterface 424. Communication interface 424 enables computer system 400to communicate and interact with any combination of remote devices,remote networks, remote entities, etc. (individually and collectivelyreferenced by reference number 428). For example, communicationinterface 424 may allow computer system 400 to communicate with remotedevices 428 over communications path 426, which may be wired and/orwireless, and which may include any combination of LANs, WANs, theInternet, etc. Control logic and/or data may be transmitted to and fromcomputer system 400 via communication path 426.

In an embodiment, a tangible apparatus or article of manufacturecomprising a tangible computer useable or readable medium having controllogic (software) stored thereon is also referred to herein as a computerprogram product or program storage device. This includes, but is notlimited to, computer system 400, main memory 408, secondary memory 410,and removable storage units 418 and 422, as well as tangible articles ofmanufacture embodying any combination of the foregoing. Such controllogic, when executed by one or more data processing devices (such ascomputer system 400), causes such data processing devices to operate asdescribed herein.

Based on the teachings contained in this disclosure, it will be apparentto persons skilled in the relevant art(s) how to make and useembodiments of this disclosure using data processing devices, computersystems and/or computer architectures other than that shown in FIG. 4.In particular, embodiments can operate with software, hardware, and/oroperating system implementations other than those described herein.

It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and notany other section, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. Othersections can set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments ascontemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limitthis disclosure or the appended claims in any way.

While this disclosure describes exemplary embodiments for exemplaryfields and applications, it should be understood that the disclosure isnot limited thereto. Other embodiments and modifications thereto arepossible, and are within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Forexample, and without limiting the generality of this paragraph,embodiments are not limited to the software, hardware, firmware, and/orentities illustrated in the figures and/or described herein. Further,embodiments (whether or not explicitly described herein) havesignificant utility to fields and applications beyond the examplesdescribed herein.

Embodiments have been described herein with the aid of functionalbuilding blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functionsand relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of thedescription. Alternate boundaries can be defined as long as thespecified functions and relationships (or equivalents thereof) areappropriately performed. Also, alternative embodiments can performfunctional blocks, steps, operations, methods, etc. using orderingsdifferent than those described herein.

References herein to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an exampleembodiment,” or similar phrases, indicate that the embodiment describedcan include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, butevery embodiment can not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it would be within the knowledge of persons skilled in therelevant art(s) to incorporate such feature, structure, orcharacteristic into other embodiments whether or not explicitlymentioned or described herein. Additionally, some embodiments can bedescribed using the expression “coupled” and “connected” along withtheir derivatives. These terms are not necessarily intended as synonymsfor each other. For example, some embodiments can be described using theterms “connected” and/or “coupled” to indicate that two or more elementsare in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. The term“coupled,” however, can also mean that two or more elements are not indirect contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interactwith each other.

The breadth and scope of this disclosure should not be limited by any ofthe above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer implemented method, comprising:displaying a user interface component bound to perform a function ondata from a data source during a run-time execution of an application,wherein the function executes an operation with respect to the databased on metadata corresponding to the data source, wherein theapplication comprises a preconfigured connection to the data source thatis accessible via the metadata corresponding to data of the data source,and wherein the user interface component is configured to display atleast a portion of data of the data source retrieved through thepreconfigured connection; receiving a request from a first user of afirst run-time instance of the application to enter an adaption mode,wherein the adaption mode enables the first user to modify the userinterface component of the application on the first run-time instance;receiving, from the first user, a modification to the user interfacecomponent of the application on the first run-time instance during theadaptation mode, wherein a second run-time instance of the applicationdoes not include the modification to the user interface component,wherein the second run-time instance is associated with a second user;receiving, from a developer, a modification of the structure of the datasource, as indicated by the metadata; updating the application includingthe modification to the structure of the data source; and propagatingthe updated application including the modification to the structure ofthe data source, as received from the developer, to both the firstrun-time instance and the second run-time instance, wherein thepropagating comprises providing a notification to the first user of thefirst run-time instance requesting input whether the modification to theuser interface component is to remain displayed after the updating. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing the modification tothe user interface component; performing a software update on theapplication, wherein the software update comprises modifying one or moreportions of code of the application not associated with the modificationto the user interface component; and providing the updated applicationincluding the stored modification.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein themodification to the user interface component comprises toggling afeature of the user interface component between being enabled ordisabled.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification to the userinterface component is performed via a drag-and-drop command.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the drag-and-drop command is received via atouchscreen tablet device.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein themodification to the user interface component changes a style of how thedata is displayed in the user interface component.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the modification to the user interface component isperformed by a first role that is authorized to make changes to a userinterface of one or more other users of the application.
 8. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: applying the modification to the userinterface component to the application, wherein the modification to theuser interface component is saved for an instance of the application andis immediately available for the first user device during the run-timeexecution of the instance of the application, and wherein themodification to the user interface component is available during asubsequent access of the application without recompiling theapplication.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata includesnames and relationships between different tables and data, and accessprivileges for different users, including both the first user and athird user, wherein the first user is a key user relative to the thirduser, wherein the key user is authorized to modify a user interface ofthe third user.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the propagatingcomprises: propagating the modification to the user interface componentto the third user, wherein subsequent to the propagating the updatedapplication, the user interface of the third user includes themodification to the user interface component as received from the firstuser.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the propagating comprises:propagating metadata corresponding to the modification of the userinterface component to a run-time instance associated with the thirduser.
 12. A system, comprising: a memory; and at least one processorcoupled to the memory and configured to: display a user interfacecomponent bound to perform a function on data from a data source duringa run-time execution of an application, wherein the function executes anoperation with respect to the data based on metadata corresponding tothe data source, wherein the application comprises a preconfiguredconnection to the data source that is accessible via the metadatacorresponding to data of the data source, and wherein the user interfacecomponent is configured to display at least a portion of data of thedata source retrieved through the preconfigured connection; receive arequest from a first user of a first run-time instance of theapplication to enter an adaption mode, wherein the adaption mode enablesthe first user to modify the user interface component of the applicationon the first run-time instance; receive, from the first user, amodification to the user interface component of the application on thefirst run-time instance during the adaptation mode, wherein a secondrun-time instance of the application does not include the modificationto the user interface component, wherein the second run-time instance isassociated with a second user; receive, from a developer, a modificationof the structure of the data source, as indicated by the metadata;update the application including the modification to the structure ofthe data source; and propagate the updated application including themodification to the structure of the data source, as received from thedeveloper, to both the first run-time instance and the second run-timeinstance, wherein the propagating comprises providing a notification tothe first user of the first run-time instance requesting input whetherthe modification to the user interface component is to remain displayedafter the updating.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to: store the modification to the userinterface component; perform a software update on the application,wherein the software update comprises modifying one or more portions ofcode of the application not associated with the modification to the userinterface component; and provide the updated application including thestored modification.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein themodification to the user interface component comprises toggling afeature of the user interface component between being enabled ordisabled.
 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the modification to theuser interface component is performed via a drag-and-drop command. 16.The system of claim 12, wherein the modification to the user interfacecomponent changes a style of how the data is displayed in the userinterface component.
 17. A non-transitory computer-readable devicehaving instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least onecomputing device, causes the at least one computing device to performoperations comprising: displaying a user interface component bound toperform a function on data from a data source during a run-timeexecution of an application, wherein the function executes an operationwith respect to the data based on metadata corresponding to the datasource, wherein the application comprises a preconfigured connection tothe data source that is accessible via the metadata corresponding todata of the data source, and wherein the user interface component isconfigured to display at least a portion of data of the data sourceretrieved through the preconfigured connection; receiving a request froma first user of a first run-time instance of the application to enter anadaption mode, wherein the adaption mode enables the first user tomodify the user interlace component of the application on the firstrun-time instance; receiving, from the first user, a modification to theuser interface component of the application on the first run-timeinstance during the adaptation mode, wherein a second run-time instanceof the application does not include the modification to the userinterface component, wherein the second run-time instance is associatedwith a second user; receiving, from a developer, a modification of thestructure of the data source, as indicated by the metadata; updating theapplication including the modification to the structure of the datasource; and propagating the updated application including themodification to the structure of the data source, as received from thedeveloper, to both the first run-time instance and the second run-timeinstance, wherein the propagating comprises providing a notification tothe first user of the first run-time instance requesting input whetherthe modification to the user interface component is to remain displayedafter the updating.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least onecomputing device is further configured to perform operations comprising:storing the modification to the user interface component; performing asoftware update on the application, wherein the software updatecomprises modifying one or more portions of code of the application notassociated with the modification to the user interface component; andproviding the updated application including the stored modification. 19.The device of claim 17, wherein the modification to the user interfacecomponent comprises toggling a feature of the user interface componentbetween being enabled or disabled.
 20. The device of claim 17, whereinthe modification to the user interface component changes a style of howthe data is displayed in the user interface component.